Crappy undersized wire in overpriced Saturn block heater

[private]

My pet peeve is the crappy undersized wire that Saturn uses on the genuine??
Saturn brand block heater for the S series. The idiot junior engineer that
spec'd the wire obviously had no experience with winter. They must have
saved a fraction of a penny on the material cost which they then wasted on
the fancy plastic flex wrap and plug boot that is also unusable in the cold.

It is by far the most expensive ($125. ?) block heater that I have ever
purchased and is only available from Saturn. I was unable to find an
aftermarket heater for this engine or an immersion type heater which I
believe would be far superior. I do not know why an emersion heater was not
designed for this engine and can only speculate that there was no thought of
heating designed into the block casting and that there is not enough room
for an internal element. Florida engineering. If anyone knows of an
aftermarket immersion type heater please post

The copper conductor is so thin that it breaks inside the insulation next to
the molded plug. I think this is due to flexing when the plastic insulation
is cold and hard. I have always discovered that the wire was broken after
dark and at 30 below when I plugged in for a morning start. This has
happened to me several times on two different cars. YMMV

Happy trails

 

[Philip Nasadowski]

Florida engineering.

California. The whole cars must be designed by Californians, or at
least my '93 SC2 was:

* No power at highway speed at all. It can't maintain normal speeds on
hills with a passenger without downshifting.

* Crap snow performance. Worst car in the snow I've ever driven. It
simply can NOT deal with it.

* Poor cold weather performance. It doesn't like starting, staying
started, or running in the cold.

* Minimalistic A/C. The only two motels I was in in my life that didn't
have A/C were in California. Even in freaking Maine they've got it. Do
Californians hate cold weather or something?

* Tiny with huge crumple zones. Perfect for Cali highways and their
'drivers'

* Gutless 4 cylinder buzzbomb. And this was the 'Sport' model.
Seriously, were the early Saturns intended as trainning models for when
we all got electric cars rammed down our thoats?? (Another Californian
thing...) Or is it just the design staff never left LA or LA traffic?

* Automatic seatbelts freeze up in bad weather. They actually get stuck
mid travel.

* Hopeless defroster.

* Leaks in the rain. If it were designed in Florida, it'd be
watertight...

* Windows freeze. No kidding, try opening one if it's below 0 and humid
outside.

* Nowhere near enough hot air to the feet when requested. There are two
ports about 1 inch by 1 inch somewhere down there, that's it.

* The *only* FM raido I've ever owned that has static. Not a Cali thing
but pretty annoying anyway.

* Designed for midgets. I won't go there...

 

[Steve]

I have a '99 SC2 in Indiana; they improved the performance (until the rings
stick) and the snow handling isn't too horrendous with some good tires. As
for the rest of you complaints, they still hold true.

 

[Wurm]

California. The whole cars must be designed by Californians, or at
least my '93 SC2 was:

* No power at highway speed at all. It can't maintain normal speeds on
hills with a passenger without downshifting.

98 SL2. I was cruising at 150kph last weekend between cities with 3 other
passengers. Car was sluggish, but held up fine.

* Crap snow performance. Worst car in the snow I've ever driven. It
simply can NOT deal with it.

Sorry, you simply have no idea how to drive in snow, I'm in montreal (you
know, real winters...) and I've never used winter tyres, no extra weight in
the back, and I park on the street. Apart from getting stuck in a snowbank a
few times, the car handles great.

* Poor cold weather performance. It doesn't like starting, staying
started, or running in the cold.

Car started great at -30 since i bought it in 2001, died on me once this
winter, replaced the battery, good as new.

* Minimalistic A/C. The only two motels I was in in my life that didn't
have A/C were in California. Even in freaking Maine they've got it. Do
Californians hate cold weather or something?

no comment really, I have AC, happy with it, works great when i need it.

* Tiny with huge crumple zones. Perfect for Cali highways and their
'drivers'

I walked away from a fairly serious accident which took out half the front
of my car without a scratch on me. No problems there whatsoever, sounds like
your praising it actually.

* Gutless 4 cylinder buzzbomb. And this was the 'Sport' model.
Seriously, were the early Saturns intended as trainning models for when
we all got electric cars rammed down our thoats?? (Another Californian
thing...) Or is it just the design staff never left LA or LA traffic?

were the older ones weaker?.

* Automatic seatbelts freeze up in bad weather. They actually get stuck
mid travel.

now you're just complaining for no reason

* Hopeless defroster.

see above

* Leaks in the rain. If it were designed in Florida, it'd be
watertight...

This is true

* Windows freeze. No kidding, try opening one if it's below 0 and humid
outside.

unless the windows are frozen over, no problems at -30, complaining again
without reason are we?

* Nowhere near enough hot air to the feet when requested. There are two
ports about 1 inch by 1 inch somewhere down there, that's it.

this I'll agree with, but its not a big deal, its no worse or better than
most other *value priced* cars

* The *only* FM raido I've ever owned that has static. Not a Cali thing
but pretty annoying anyway.

now you're really grasping at straws....

* Designed for midgets. I won't go there...

bah, I'm a big enough dude, fit fine, back seat is small but didn't you
check that when you bought it?, why buy it if it didnt fit your needs?,
doesnt that sound like a stupid thing to do?

got anymore fabricated complaints?

 

[Bob Shuman]

The OP was about a 1993 SC2. Your replying with info on a 1998 SL2. I'm
not sure how you are qualified to respond on that vehicle. We too have had
excellent service from a 1996 SL series vehicle and it always starts no
matter how cold and handles well with a good set of all season tires, even
in heavy snow. But, this is not relevant to the vehicle he posted his
complaints about.

Bob

98 SL2. I was cruising at 150kph last weekend between cities with 3 other
passengers. Car was sluggish, but held up fine.

Rest deleted

 

[Wurm]

The OP was about a 1993 SC2. Your replying with info on a 1998 SL2. I'm
not sure how you are qualified to respond on that vehicle. We too have had
excellent service from a 1996 SL series vehicle and it always starts no
matter how cold and handles well with a good set of all season tires, even
in heavy snow. But, this is not relevant to the vehicle he posted his
complaints about.

Bob

well crap.....

 

[Jim Sanders]

well crap.....

Note: 93 SC1 had an 85 HP motor, 95 and newer 100 HP

 

[David]

We purchased a good quality block heater cord from Part Source, which is
Canadian Tire, for less than half the Saturn dealer's price. Has worked
good for two winters in Saskatchewan, where it is -40!
The trick to preventing the wire from breaking at the plug is to not over
flex it when disconnecting it. A little care can save some frozen fingers.

David